Ranike said the candidate should be resident of Punjab and belong to scheduled castes and his/her age should not exceed 30 years on June, 30, 2012. He said priority would be given to the candidates from below poverty line (BPL) families.

He said in absence of BPL category students, the candidates having annual income of less than Rs one lakh would be considered. He said if again the seats would remain vacant, the candidates having annual income of more than Rs one lakh would be considered but they would not be able to get monthly scholarship of Rs 750.

The Minister informed that there were total 80 seats in stenography at Mohali including 40 in Punjabi and 40 in English while at Amritsar there were 25 seats of Punjabi stenography, in Ferozepur 50 seats out of which 25 in English and 25 seats at Patiala of Punjabi stenography.

He said after completion of application processes at different centers, interview would take place at above centres at 1000 hrs on July 30, 2012.

Ranike said the candidates can also get more information from the landline phones including 0172-2228396 (Mohali), 0183-2583166 (Amritsar), 0175-2370574 (Patiala) and 01632-220133 (Ferozepur).